Sheet binding machine

ABSTRACT

An automated machine for binding stacks of sheets along one edge. The machine has two spaced clamping stations for receiving stacks of sheets to be bound. A single cutting mechanism and a single heated platen are movable to either clamping station from a central location between the stations to respectively groove one edge of a stack of sheets therein and apply a length of binding material dispensed from a central dispensing mechanism to the grooved edge.

United States Patent 1191 Carlton et a1.

1451 Nov. 18, 1975 SHEET BINDING MACHINE 2,646,104 7/1953 Hawkes 156/3543,117,330 l/l964 Robbins et al7 11/1 R {75] Inventors Paul Park3,280,413 /1966 Robbins et a1 11/5 Paul; 3,531,358 9/1970 ROSt et a1156/216 Thomas Featherstone, North 3,560.311 2/1971 Blair 11/1 AD Paul,all Of Minn. 3,616,074 10/1971 Hoff et al. .1 156/477 B [731 AssignwMining and 13113528 51333 E221f1???.?.f..i.1iJJJJJJJJJJ..T 511 13llwmufacturmg Company Paul, 3,788,921 1/1974 Polit et al. 156/216 [22]Filed; May 25 97 Primary Examiner-Charles E. Van Horn AssistantExammer-Basd J. Lewrls PP N93 363,836 Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Alexander, Sell, Steldt &

' DeLaHunt [52] US. Cl 156/364; 11/1 R; 156/368;

156/477 B; 156/510; 156/535; 156/538; [57] ABSTRACT 156/583 An automatedmachine for binding stacks of sheets [51] Int. Cl. B42C 13/00 along oneg Th ma hin has two spa d lamp- [58] Field of Search 156/477 B, 212,216, 221, ing stations for receiving stacks of sheets to be bound.156/257, 351, 354, 355, 359, 360, 361, 367, .A single cutting mechanismand a single heated platen 475, 477 R, 499, 510, 535, 364, 368, 538, aremovable to either clamping station from a central 583; 11/1 R, 1 AD, 1CP, 5; 281/21 R location between the stations to respectively groove oneedge of a stack of sheets therein and apply a [56] References Cit dlength of binding material dispensed from a central UNITED STATESPATENTS dispensing mechanism to the grooved edge.

1,248,254 11/1917 Bredenberg 156/477 13 6 C aims, 14 Drawing Figures2,296,906 9/1942 Carlson ll/l R 23 /2 I 2.4 7 /4 0 I Q /4 :2 2/ /44 4 46:2: 7H4 7 444- I Y g 2124 n 4 I]: 143 1 a: 1" M 1 2;, n 1 5?- :1 7 d l,l M64 7 I j] 6- a w 5d 75 4 47 33 34 5 /0 3,53? 50 7 47 $34" '5 I 73 166b 67 g m n 5: 62 IL 1 1 712 o I11 Ill 7 43 17 32 51/ 24 3* a if: f 5/2z7 1 I 1 9 9/ 93 66 {2 A m3 40 U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet1of73,920,501

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clamp 16 which includes a first clamp member 34, and a second clampmember mounted on the first clamping member34 for relative movement froman open position with the members 34 and 35 spaced to receive the stackof sheets 23 (FIG. 3), and a clamping position with the clamp members 34and 35 in clamping engagement with the stack of sheets 23 (FIGS. 4, 5and 6). The first clamp member 34 is mounted on the frame 28 forvertical movement via a cam and follower assembly 33 (best illustratedin FIGS. 3a and 5a) between a first lowered position illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, and a second raised position slightly above the positionillustrated in FIG. 5.

The operational cycle is initiated to bind the stack of sheets 23 bymanually actuating a control circuit. The control circuit first actuatesa clamp operating mechanism 36 (later to be explained) to move the clamp16 to the clamping position.

Next, the control circuit actuates the cutting mechanism 18 totransversely score the spine edge 32 of the stack of sheets 23. Thecutting mechanism 18 includes a housing 37 movably mounted on the frame28 and carrying projecting from its upper surface, a rotatably mountedroller 38 having eight rows of axially spaced tangentially projectingteeth 39. A housing drive mechanism 40 (to be explained later) moves thehousing 37 from the central position spaced from the stack of sheets 23(FIG. 3), along a path with the teeth 39 contacting the spine edge 32(FIG. 4), and a cutting roller drive, including a gear reduction unit 41driven by a cutting roller drive motor 42 supported on the housing 37,is actuated to rotate the roller 38 for a sufficient period so that theteeth 39 will score the spine edge 32. The housing 37 is then returnedto the central position. The housing 37 is adapted to engage a pin 43attached to the plate 27 to cause movement of the plate 27 with thecutter housing 37 along the path to space the plate 27 from the stack ofsheets 23 during cutting engagement of the teeth 39 with the spine edge32.

Next the control circuit actuates a clamp positioning mechanism. Theclamp positioning mechanism includes a gear reduced clamp positioningmotor 44 which through a shaft, worm gear 45 and gear 46 drives the camand follower assembly 33. The cam and follower assembly 33 includes acam 47 coupled to the gear 46. The cam 47 has a race engaged by afollower 48 on the first clamp member 34 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 3a The cam 47is rotated to raise the clamp 16 along a vertical path to the secondraised position which is slightly above the position illustrated in FIG.5 and which is attained when the cam 47 is rotated slightly from theposition illustrated in FIG. 5a. Upon movement of the clamp 16 to theraised position, the control circuit actuates the dispensing mechanism21 which includes a pair of rollers 50 on opposite sides of a guidechute 51 for an end of a rolled supply 52 of the heat softenable bindingmaterial supported on a removable rotatably mounted core 53 in a hopper54. Via a sensing means later to be explained, the control circuitdrives the rollers 50 for a sufficient time to project a predeterminedlength of the binding material beyond an end 55 of the guidechute 51,which length is adapted (when centrally positioned) to extend beyondeach side of the spine edge 32 by a predetermined distance. Theprojecting predetermined length of binding material is then severed by aknife 56 driven along the end 55 of the guide chute 51 by a knife drivemechanism 51 (to be explained later) and is retained adjacent the bottomof the hopper 54 above a heated support surface 58 of the platen 19 on apair of support plates 59 spaced from the bottom of the hopper 54 andprojecting toward each other from opposite ends of the hopper 54.

The heated platen 19 is mounted on the frame 28 for movement between itscentral position beneath the dispensing mechanism 21 and an applyingposition with the support surface 58 transverse of the path for theclamp 16. After the clamp 16 has reached its second position, thecontrol circuit activates a platen drive mechanism 60 (to be explainedlater) to move the platen 19 to the applying position. During movementof the platen 19 from the central position, one pair of two pairs ofpins 61 on the platen 19 engage an edge of the dispensed length ofbinding material on the support plates 59, thereby removing the lengthof binding material from the supporting plates and positioning it in apredetermined position against the pins 61 on the heated support surface58 so that the binding material will be supported in a predeterminedposition extending equal distances beyond each side of the spine edge 32when the platen 19 reaches the applying position.

The control circuit then causes further rotation of the cam 47 to movethe follower 48 to an offset 62 in the race of the cam 47 (FIG. 5athereby allowing the weight of the clamp to move it toward the platenand provide biasing means for pressing the spine edge 32 into engagementwith the softened binding material on the heated support surface (FIG.5). After a predetermined time the cam 47 is again rotated to move thefollower 48 from the offset 62, thereby returning the clamp 16 and stackof sheets 23 to the second position, after which the platen drivemechanism 60 is again activated to return the platen 19 to its centralor receiving position. The cam 47 is further rotated to move the clamp16 and stack of sheets 23 toward the first position, thereby moving theapplied strip of heat softenable binding material between a pair ofsmoothing jaws (FIG. 6) to press the edges of the strip extending beyondthe sides of the stack of sheets 23 into engagement with the adjacentsurfaces of the stack 23. The jaws include a jaw 63 fixed to the frame28, and an opposed movable jaw 64 mounted for horizontal movementrelative thereto. A pin 65 in the second clamp member 35 engages anopening in the movable jaw 64 when the clamp 16 is in its first positionto initially position the movable jaw 64 with respect to the thicknessof a stack of sheets in the clamp 16, and the pin 65 has a tapered endadapted to engage the opening in the movable jaw 64 to position andproperly retain it as the binding material on the spine edge 32 of thestack of sheets 23 moves between the jaws 63 and 64 during the return ofthe clamp 16 to its first position.

Certain portions of the machine will now be described in more detail.Throughout the description those members of the second station 14 whichare similar to members already described at the first station 12 will besimilarly numbered and designated with the letter a.

The two clamp members 34 and 35, or 34a and 35a at each station eachconsist of a horizontally extending C-channel 67 supporting a guideplate 68 flanged at its upper end to guide a stack of sheets into theopening 26 or 26a. The first clamp member 34 or 34a has a pair of spacedbearings 70 slidably mounted on spaced vertical rods 71 attached to theframe 28 to afford vertical movement of the clamp 16 or 17 via the clamppositioning mechanism.

. BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION lhisinvention relates to. an improvementin sheet binding machines.

Prior art machines are known for binding a stack of sheets by applyingflexible heat softenable binding material to one edge of the stack. Suchmachines are suggested in US. Pat Nos. 3,518,143 and 3,616,074. Theseprior art machines both include a clamp for releasably clamping a stackof sheets to be bound which clamp then provided means to support thesheets to movethem to various stations to carry out the bindingoperations. In the machine of Pat. No. 3,616,074 the clamped sheets aremoved to a second position or station including a platen having a heatedsurface for heating a strip of the binding material and means forpressing the heated strip on the platen into engagement with one edge'of the stack. The'sheets are then again moved to a third station. wherethe binding material is folded about the end sheets in the stack. Atthis third station the clamp is removed and the stack of sheets is movedmanually downward between spring rollers to fold the strip about thestack. The machine of Pat. No. 3,518,143 requires a similar series ofmanual operations. The operations required to operate either of thesemachines, to'essentially manually perform each of the bookbindingoperations, results in an inefficient use of the equipment and operator.Additionally the success of the binding operation is largely dependent'upon operator performance and dexterity. It is there- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION A machine for binding stacks of sheets according to thepresent invention provides two spaced stations, each of which receives astack of sheets to be bound, and is automated so that after a stack ofsheets is placed in one of the stations, the stack will be bound withoutfurther manipulations by the operator. Thus the operator remains free toalternate between the stations removing bound stacks and preparing andinserting new stacks.

The machine has a novel arrangement of parts to provide two stations forprocessing stacks of sheets while utilizing a single mechanism forgrooving the edges of the stacks to improve the adherence of the bindingmaterial, and a single material dispensing mechanism and heated platento apply the binding material to the grooved edges. The cuttingmechanism and platen are normally disposed at a central location betweenthe stations with the platen at a binding material dispensing station.The cutting mechanism and platen are sequentially movable to either ofthe'stations to respectively groove and apply dispensed bindingmaterial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 2 FIGS. 3 through 6 are fragmentarysectional views taken approximately along the lines 22 of FIG. 1illustrating certain steps in the operational sequence of themachineaccording to the present invention, with FIG. 3a being a sectional viewtaken approximately along lines 3a3a of FIG. 3 and illustrating only acam andfollower for moving a clamp in the machine, and FIG. 50 beingtaken along lines 5a5a of FIG. 5 and also illustrating the cam of FIG.30;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the machine of FIG. 1 with portions broken awayto show interior details;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken approximately along lines 8-8 of FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along lines99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a drive for aheated platen for the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a mechanism inthe machine of FIG. 1 for dispensing heat softenable binding material tothe heated platen; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the electric circuitry for the machineof FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingthere is shown a machine 10 according to the present invention forbinding a stack of sheets in the known manner of releasably clamping astack of sheets to be bound, scoring an edge (called spine edge herein)of the stack intended to be the spine edge of the bound stack, heating astrip of heat softenable binding material on a heated support surfaceand pressing the strip of heated binding material on the support surfaceinto engagement with the spine edge.

As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the novel machine 10 according to thepresent invention has spaced first and second stations 12 and 14 each ofwhich includes a clamp (16 and 17 respectively) adapted for receiving astack of sheet material. A cutting mechanism 18 and a heated platen 19are mounted for movement in either direction from a first centralposition between the stations 12 and 14 so that during the operationalcycle of the machine 10 the cutting mechanism can groove the spine edgeof a stack in either of the clamps 16 or 17, after which the heatedplaten 19 can apply to the grooved spine edge a strip of bindingmaterial dispensed to the platen by a centrally located dispensingmechanism 21.

The machine 10 will be more readily understood fromthe following briefdescription of its operational cycle (which is schematically illustratedin FIGS. 3 through 6) to bind a stack of sheets 23 at the first station12, the operational cycle of the machine 10 to bind a stack of sheets atthe second station 14 being essentially the same.

With the first station 12 of the machine 10 in a nonoperative condition(FIG. 3), the stack of sheets 23 is inserted into an opening 26 in themachine 10. The bottom of the opening 26 is defined by a plate 27mounted on a frame 28 of'the machine 10 for horizontal sliding movement.The plate 27 is biased by a spring 29 to a first position at which anupper contact surface 31 on the plate 27 supports and aligns the spineedge 32 of the stack 23. The walls of the opening 26 adjacent thesurfaces of the stack of sheets 23 are defined by the The clampoperating mechanism 36 for opening and closing the clamp 16 or 17includes a pair of spaced horizontal shafts 73 extending between theclamping members on opposite sides of the opening 26 or 26a. Each shaft73 is rotatably mounted and restrained for axial movement within abearing 74 attached in the C- channel 67 of the first clamp member 34 or34a and has a threaded end in engagement with a nut 75 fixably attachedin the C-channel 67 of the second clamp member 35 or 35a. The threadedshafts 73 for the clamp 16 or 17 may be rotated in either direction(when the clamp 16 or 17 is in the first position) by activation of areversible gear reduced clamp operating motor 77 mounted on the frame 28and coupled to the shafts 73 by a pair of mated gears 78 and 79 drivingan axle 80 rotatably mounted on the first clamp member 34 or 34a andcarrying a pair of spaced worms 81 each engaging a worm gear 82 coupledto one of the spaced shafts 73. Movement of the clamp to the closedposition is terminated when a predetermined pressure is reached betweenthe clamp members 34 and 35 or 34a and 35a through the use of a pressuresensing limit switch 83 mounted on the first clamp member 34 or 34a andhaving a sensing member positioned to contact a stack of sheets in theclamp 16 or 17. When the clamp 16 or 17 is moved toward the secondposition the gear 78 (which is rotatably mounted on the frame 28) willseparate from the gear 79 on the axle 80, but the clamping pressure willbe retained by the engagement between the worms 81 and the worm gears82.

The housing 37 of the cutting mechanism 18 is mounted by a pair of ballslides 84 for movement along a path in either of two opposed directionsfrom the central position to afford engagement between the teeth 39 andthe spine edge of a stack of sheets clamped at one of the stations 12 or14. The term ball slide as' used herein refers to a slide of the typesold under the trade drive sprocket 90. A pin 91 projects upwardly froma link in the chain 86 and engages a slot 92 in a bar 93 fixed to thehousing 37. The slot 92 extends transverse of the direction of movementof the housing 37 and the sprockets are positioned so that with thehousing 37 initially in the central position, movement of the pin 91 fora distance equal to half the length of the chain 86 will cycle thehousing 37 along its path beneath the clamp at one station 12 or 14 toafford grooving a stack, and return the housing 37 to the centralposition, and further movement of the pin 91 in the same direction forthe same distance will similarly cycle the cutter assembly beneath theother station 12 or 14.

As is best seen in FIG. 7, the housing drive mechanism 40 includes agear reduced high speed housing drive motor 94 to swiftly move thecutting mechanism 18 from the central position to a position adjacent astation 12 or 14, and a gear reduced lower speed housing drive motor 95to move the housing 37 and driven cutting roller 38 along the pathduring the grooving of a stack of sheets. The high speed housing drivemotor 6 94 is coupled by a chain 97 to' a sprocket 98 and the sprocket98 is coupled through a first one-way clutch 99 to the first drivesprocket 89; and the low speed housing drive motor 95 is coupled by achain 102 to a sprocket 103 and the sprocket 103 is coupled through asecond one-way clutch 104 to the second drive sprocket 90. The one-wayclutches 99 and 104 are of a conventional type and each is oriented toafford rotation of the associated drive sprocket 89 or at a speedgreater than the associated sprocket 98 or 103. Thus the high speedhousing drive motor 94 may be activated to swiftly propel the housing 37to a position with the cutting roller 38 adjacent a stack of sheets inthe clamp 16 or 17, which position is indicated by a limit switchinteracting between the clamp 16 or 17 and the housing 37, whereupon thehigh speed housing drive motor 94 is deactivated and the low speedhousing drive motor activated to move the housing 37 at a slower ratealong the portion of the cycle at which the teeth 39 in the roller 38grooves the spine edge of a stack, after which the high speed motor 94is again reactivated by a second limit switch to return the housing 37to its central position.

A pair of brushes 106 extend across the housing 37 parallel to and onopposite sides of the roller 38. The brushes 106 are adapted forengagement with the frame 28 and clamp members 34 and 35 or 34a and 35aduring grooving of a spine edge to retain paper chaff within the housing37. The paper chaff is directed by an inclined wall 107 of the housing37 to a compartment within the housing 37 from which it may be withdrawnby a vacuum means (not shown) attached as by a flexible hose at anopening 108.

The platen 19 is mounted on the frame 28 for movement from the receivingposition to the applying position by a ball slide assembly 110transversely attached at each end thereof. Each ball slide assembly 110includes two ball slides positioned one above the other with the outermember 111 of the upper ball slide attached to the platen 19, theadjacent inner and outer members of the two ball slides attachedtogether to form a central portion 112 of the slide assembly 110, andthe inner member 113 of the lower ball slide attached to the frame '28.This relatively short ball slide assembly 110 affords the requireddegree of movement between the central and either applying position ofthe platen 19. The central portion 112 of each ball slide assembly 110has a rotatably mounted idler gear 114 in engagement between a firstrack 115 on the portion attached to the platen 19 and a second rack 116on the portion attached to the frame 28 to insure return of the centralportion 112 to a position between the members 111 and 113 when theplaten 19 returns to its central position.

The platen drive mechanism 60, best seen in FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 10,includes a gear reduced platen drive motor 120 coupled to a shaft 121carrying a worm 122 in engagement with a gear 123 rotatably mounted onthe frame 28. One end of an arm 125 is fixedly attached to the gear 123.The other end of the arm 125 is formed with a longitudinally extendingslot 124 in which is slidably mounted a block 126 supporting a pin 127and biased away from the gear 123 by a spring 128 mounted over a guiderod. The pin 127 has a projecting head 129 adapted to engage a matinggroove 130 in the platen 19 extending transverse to the direction ofmovement thereof. Upon activation of the platen drive motor 120 to movethe platen 19 from its central position, the arm 125 will be swung aboutthe gear 123 from a position generally parallel with the groove 130 andthe head 129 of the pin 127 will slide along the groove 130 and drivethe platen 19 to its applying position at one of the stations 12 or 14.When the platen reaches the station 12 or 14, a pair of dependent pins132 spaced at the opposite ends of the second or horizontally movableclamp member 35 or 35a will contact mating tabs 133 on the ends of theplaten 19 (as is illustrated in FIG. to center the binding materialbeneath the spine edge of a stack of sheets in the clamp 16 or 17. Uponfurther rotation of the arm 125, the block 126 supporting the pin 127will slide within the slot 124 against the bias of the spring 128 untilthe arm 125 is disposed at right angles to the platen 19, after whichstill further rotation of the arm 125 will allow the block 126 and pin127 to return to the end of the slot 124 and subsequently return theplaten 19 to its central position.

The sensing means for determining the predetermined time of operationfor the rollers 50 to project a proper length of the binding materialbeyond the end 55 of the guide chute 5 1 includes means for sensing thespacing between the first and second clamp members 34 and 35 or 340 and35a (and thus the thickness of a stack of sheets therebetween) and forrotating the rollers 50 for a time proportionate to that spacing todispense the binding material. The guide plates of the second clampmembers 35 and 35a each have a tab with a vertically extending slot 135(FIG. 2). A pair of brackets 136 and 137 (FIG. 9) are mounted forhorizontal sliding motion on the side of the frame 28 at the ends of theclamps 16 and 17 by a pair of pins 138 which slidably engage slots 139in the brackets 136 and 137, and by rods 142 and 143 attached to thebrackets 136 and 137 respectively, each of which extends through ahorizontal slot 144 in the frame 28 and engages one of the verticalslots 135 in the clamp members 35 and 35 a. The brackets 136 and 137carry limit switches 146 and 147 respectively. Thus the horizontalposition of the limit switch 146 is determined by the horizontalposition of the clamp member 35 at the first station 12, and thehorizontal position of thelimit switch 147 is determined by thehorizontal position of the clamp member 35a at the second station 14. Apair of racks 149 and 150 are each slidably mounted in a bearing block151 attached to the frame 28 for movement in a horizontal direction andare positioned so that when the rack 149 is positioned under the limitswitch 146, the rack 149 will contact and operate the limit switch 146,and that when the rack 150 is positioned over the limit switch 147, therack 150 will contact and operate the limit switch 147. A pinion 152 isin driving engagement with the racks 149 and 150 and may be driven by areversible gear reduced roller drive motor 154 through a pair of gears155 and a shaft 156 rotatably mounted on the frame 28. The shaft 156 isattached through a one-way clutch 157 to a gear 158 in drivingengagement with gears 159 fixed to the shafts of the rollers 50. Theoneway clutch 157 is oriented so that the shaft 156 can only drive therollers 50 in a direction to dispense material from the chute 51. Tocycle the dispensing mechanism 21 to dispense a length of the bindingmaterial, the control circuit activates the roller drive motor 154,which rotates the pinion 152 and moves both racks 149 and 150 away frompredeterminedstarting positions, and rotates the rollers 50 to dispensethe binding material. The material is dispensed until the rack 149 or150 associated with the clamp 16 or 17 for which the binding material isbeing dispensed loses contact with its associated limit switch 146 or147 and thereby allows that limit switch to assume its normal condition.A proper length of binding material having thus been dispensed, thecontrol circuit then reverses the roller drive motor 154 to return theracks 149 and to their starting positions which are determined by limitswitch 161 at the end of the rack 149 (FIG. 9). During the return of theracks 149 and 150 the clutch 157 prevents rotation of the rollers 50 sothat the binding material will not be returned to the hopper 54.

The knife drive mechanism 57 includes a carriage 163 for the knife 56slidably mounted on a bar 164 extending parallel with, and positioningthe knife 56 to travel along, the end 55 of the guide chute 51. Twolengths of wire cable 166 are attached to opposite ends of the carriage163. The lengths of cable 166 extend in opposite directions and thenaround a pair of pulleys 167 rotatably mounted on the hopper 54, andhave their ends wrapped around a shaft 168 also rotatably mounted on thehopper 54 axially parallel with the bar 164. Rotation of the shaft 168in either direction .will wrap one length of cable 166 and unwrap theother causing the carriage to move along the bar 164. A reversible gearreduced knife drive motor 171 is coupled to the shaft 168. When thebinding material is to be severed the control circuit activates theknife drive motor 171 in the proper direction to move the knife 56 alongthe end 55 of the guide chute 51 from one end to the other and sever thematerial, the motor 171 being deactivated at the end of the guide chute51 by engagemer of the carriage 163 with one of a pair of limit switches173. Subsequent activation of the knife drive motor 171 to sever alength of material will return the carriage 163.

As is best seen in FIG. 11, the machine 10 also includes means forproperly positioning a dispensed length of the binding material on thesupport plates 59 for engagement by the pins 61 as the platen 19 movesto the applying position. A bearing rod is rotatably mounted across alower corner of the hopper 54. A drive rod 182 extends radially from oneend of the bearing rod 180 and the distal end of the drive rod 182 iscoupled to the plunger 184 of a solenoid 186. A pair of spaced parallelbars 188 are attached at one end to the bearing rod 180 and extendtangentially therefrom to the opposite side of the hopper 54. Each bar188 carries a normally projecting pin 190 at its end opposite thebearing rod 180. The pins 190 extend through openings in a heat shieldforming the bottom wall of the hopper 54 and each pin 190 supports apressure foot 192. The pressure feet 192 extend toward the bearing rod180 parallel to the bars 188 along the lower surface of the heat shieldand are positioned above the support plates 59. The solenoid 186 canrotate the bearing rod 180 to move the pressure feet 192 from a releaseposition against the heat shield spaced from the support plates 59, andurge the pressure feet 192 toward the upper surface of the supportplates 59. The solenoid 186 is normally deactivated to allow a spring193 to maintain the pressure feet 192 in the release position. After alength of binding material has been dispensed to the support plates 59,the control circuit activates the solenoid 186 thereby causing thepressure feet 192 to press the dispensed binding material against thesupport plates 59 to insure that it is flat and in the proper positionfor engagement by the pins 61 when the platen .19 is moved to theapplying position.

"The binding material or bookbinding tape comprises athermoplastic-elastomeric hot melt adhesive adhered to a flexiblepolymeric backing. The binding material is dispensed to position thepolymeric backing on the heated surface 58 of the platen 19 'so that theadhesive is heated through the backing. The adhesive is selected .toadhere well 'to the edge of each sheet in the stack and to have elasticpropertiessuch that it will allow adjacent sheets to lay flat whenabound stack of sheets is opened (i.e. is not sufficiently elasticto tendto close the sheets) and yet will elastically recover to its originalshape after a-user has closed the bound'stack. The backing is selectedfor strength, for adhesion by the adhesive, and to afford flexingwithout fracture during repeated openings of the bound stack. Thebinding material should be resistant to curl and resist the tendency ofthe adhesive to flash out under pressure.

A preferred binding material is disclosed in a copending application,Ser. No. 363,835, (Attorney Docket No. 28,204) filed concurrently withthis application, the content of which is incorporated by referenceherein. In the preferred binding material the backing material isbiaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate film, and the adhesivecontains a segmented polymer of the A B A type comprising styrene andbutadiene segments. Such an adhesive is sold under the trade designation34-1080 by the National Starch Corporation. The backing is preferablyabout 2 mils thick and carries an adhesive coating about 10 to milsthick covering one surface of the backing.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a schematic diagram of aportion of the electrical circuitry that provides means for controllingthe operational cycle of the machine 10 and includes 14 circuit branches200-214. Only that portion of the control circuitry which relates to abinding operation performed in the first station 12 is shown anddescribed since the circuitry for performing a binding operation in thesecond station 14 is generally the same.

The circuitry of FIG. 12 is shown in a standby condition with a powerswitch 240 turned on in readiness to begin a binding operation at thefirst station 12, thereby activating a motor 242 on the vacuum systemfor removing paper chaff from the housing 37 (circuit branch 200) and athermostatically controlled resistance heating element 244 (e.g. 550watts controlled at 350F.) in the platen 19 (circuit branch 201). Theclamp members 34 and 35 are in their open position, the clamp 16 is inits first position, platen 19 is in its central position, and thecutting mechanism 18 is in a position slightly on the side of itscentral position adjacent the clamps 16. In this position the housing 37of the cutting mechanism 18 is just out of contact with a normallyclosed limit switch 250 (circuit branch 202), thereby energizing a relay251 connected in series with the switch 250 having two normally openrelaythe clamp 16 so that the end of .the stack engages and closes anormally open limit switch 255 (circuit branch 10 203). The switch 255provides a sefety feature to restrict operation of the machine unless astack of sheets is in the clamp. The operator then starts the bindingoperation by pressing a push button 256 (circuit branch 203) so that acomplete circuit is momentarily established through the relay contact251a, the limit switch 253, the push button 256, the limit switch 255, anormally closed contact 260a (circuit branch 203) of a relay 260(circuit branch 213), and a relay 261 (circuit branch 203). Accordingly,the relay 261 is energized to close normally open contacts 261a and 26lb(circuit branch 203) associated with the relay 261. Closing of thecontact 261a seals the relay 261 in an. energized condition around thepush button 256. Also, as a result of closing both of the relay contacts261a and 26lb actuated to open the contact 830 and close a normally opencontact 83b, thereby disrupting the closed circuit for the clampoperating motor 77.

Closure of the limit switch contact 83b energizes a relay 267 throughthe relay contacts 261a, 261b, 83b

and 251b, (circuit branch 203), thereby closing associated normally openrelay contacts 267a (circuit branch 203) and 267b (circuit branch 205).Closure of relay contact 267a seals the relay 267 in an energizedcondition. Upon the closure of the relay contact 267b (circuit branch205), a circuit is completed through a normally closed relay contact268a of relay 268 (circuit branch 204), a normally closed contact 269aof a relay 269 (which is not shown but opens when the cutting mechanism18 is set for movement to the second station 14), and the high speeddrive motor 94 for advancing the cutting mechanism 18 toward the clamp16. when the toothed roller 38 nears the stack of sheets in the clamp16, the housing 37 contacts and closes a normally open limit switch 274(circuit branch 204), thereby completing a circuit through a normallyopen limit switch 275 (which is contacted and closed by the clamp 16when the clamp 16 is in its first position) and energizing the relay 268to open normally closed contact 268a (circuit branch 205) and closenormally open contact 268b (circuit branch 206) and 268C (circuit branch204). Closure of the contact 2680 seals the relay 268 in an energizedcondition around the switch 274. When the contact 268a opens, thisbreaks the closed circuit for operation of the fast drive motor 94(circuit branch 205), and concurrently, the closure of the relay contact268b completes a circuit for both the slow drive motor 95 and the cuttermotor 42 (both in circuit branch 206) to advance the cutting mechanism18 at a slow speed to groove the spine edge of the sheets.

After the cutting mechanism 18 has passed through the stack of sheetsthe housing 40 momentarily closes a normally open limit switch 278(circuit branch 212), thereby energizing a relay 279 to close normallyopen contacts 279a (circuit branch 208), 27% (circuit branch 213) and279c (circuit branch 212). The relay 279 is held energized by contact2790 which seals around the limit switch 278. The closure of contact279a (circuit branch 208) actuates a relay 285 closing normally opencontacts 285a (circuit branch 208) and 285b (circuit branch 207) andopening a normally closed contact 2850 (circuit branch 213). Uponclosure of the contact 27% (circuit branch 213) a complete circuit ismade through the clamp positioning motor 44 which drives the cam andfollower assembly 33 to raise the clamp 16. As the clamp 16 raises itallows the limit switch 275 to open (circuit branch 204) therebybreaking the circuit of relay 268 so that contacts 268b (circuit branch205) and 268C (circuit branch 204) return to their normal open state,and contact 268 a (circuit branch 205) returns to its normal closedstate. Accordingly, the cutter mechanism 18 is driven again by the fastdrive motor 94 and is returned to a position slightly on the side of itscentral position away from the first clamping station 12 at which thehousing 37 will engage and open the limit switch 250 (circuit branch202), thereby deenergizing the relay 251, so that the opening of contact251b (circuit branch 203) will break the latch of relay 267, openingcontacts 267b (circuit branch 205) and deenergizing the fast drive motor94.

When the clamp 16 is raised to a position at which the spine edge of thestack is slightly above the upper surface of the heated platen 19, theclamp 16 engages and actuates limit switch 292 to close normally opencontact 292a (circuit branch 213) and open normally closed contact 292b(circuit branch 214). When the clamp 16 reaches its second or uppermostposition (with the follower 48 adjacent the offset 62 in the race of thecam 47) it engages and opens a normally closed limit switch 284 (circuitbranch 212) to break the closed circuit of relay 279, whereupon contact27% (circuit branch 213) returns to its normal open condition and theclamp positioning motor 44 is deenergized.

Although contact 279a (circuit branch 208) opens when the circuit ofrelay 279 is broken, the relay 285 remains on because of the contact285a that seals around contact 279a. Accordingly, contact 285b remainsclosed and because the heated platen 19 is centered, the platen 19engages and operates a limit switch 287 (circuit branch 207) to opennormally closed contact 287a and close normally open contact 287b. Theclosing of contact 287b completes a circuit through contact 285b and anormally open contact 146a of the limit switch 146 which is initiallymaintained in a closed position by contact with the rack 149 (FIG. 9) aswas previously described, so that a first winding 154a of the rollerdrive motor 154 is actuated to begin dispensing binding material. If theheated platen 19 is not centered, as when it is applying a strip ofbinding material at the second station 14, the dispense mechanism willremain inoperative via the open contact 287 b until the platen 19 iscentered.

When the predetermined length of the binding material has beendispensed, which is indicated by the rack 149 moving from beneath thelimit switch 146 (FIG. 9), the normally open contact 146a opens and anormally closed contact 146b of the limit switch 146 closes (circuitbranch 207) to energize a first winding 171a of the knife drive motor171 and drive the knife 56 across the end 55 of the guide chute 51 tosever the binding material. When the knife 56 reaches the opposite endof the guide chute 51 the normally closed limit switch 173 (circuitbranch 208) is opened deenergizing the relay 285, and thereby the motor171 as the contact 285b opens (circuit branch 207). Also, the contact285C (circuit branch 213) returns to its normally closed 12 condition,completing a circuit to energize the relay 260 and close its normallyopen contact 2600 (circuit branch 209) to provide current to the platendrive motor and to the solenoid 186 for moving the pressure feet 192 topress the dispensed binding material against the support plates 59 (FIG.11). The motor 120 drives the platen 19 toward the first station 12,removing the dispensed binding material from the support plates 59, andpositioning it on the platen 19.

When the platen 19 leaves its central position it moves out of contactwith the limit switch 287 (circuit branch 207), thereby allowing thecontact 287a to close and energize a second winding 154b of the rollerdrive motor 154 through the normally closed limit switch 161 positionedadjacent an end of the rack 149. The motor 154 drives the rack 149toward the limit switch 161 until the rack contacts and opens the limitswitch 161 with the rack 149 in its home or starting posltion.

The motor 120 drives the platen 19 until it is located in its materialapplying position under the clamp 16, and the arm extends generally at aright angle to the platen 19. As is best seen in FIG. 10, in thisposition of the arm 125 a limit switch 294 mounted on the frame 28 ofthe machine 10 is actuated by a pin 295 extending axially parallel tothe gear 123 from a projecting portion of the arm 125. Activation of thelimit switch 294 closes its normally open contacts 294b (circuit branch213) and 2940 (circuit branch 214) and opens its normally closed contact294a (circuit branch 213). When contact 294a opens, the relay 260 isdeenergized which, in turn deenergizes the platen drive motor 120(circuit branch 209) because the contact 260c returns to its normal openposition.

When the contact 29412 closes (circuit branch 214), the clamppositioning motor 44 is again energized and moves the follower 48 intothe offset 62 in the cam race to lower the clamp 16 toward the platen 19and apply the binding material on the platen 19 to the spine edge of thestack of sheets; whereupon the limit switch 292 (circuit branch 213) isdeactivated, thus opening contact 292a (circuit branch 213) todeenergize the clamp positioning motor 44, and closing contact 292b(circuit branch 214). Closing of the contact 292b energizes a relay 296which closes its normally open contact 2961; (circuit branch 210) tostart a timer 300; and energizes a relay 301 to close its normally opencontact 301a which seals around contacts 294a and 292b, and close itsnormally open contact 301b (circuit branch 211). When the relay 296 isenergized its normally open contact 296a (circuit branch 213) closes.

Timer 300 is preset for a period of from 5 to 10 seconds to afford timefor the heated platen 19 to melt the binding material and fuse it to thestack of sheets. After the preset time has elapsed, a normally opencontact 300a (circuit branch 213) of the timer 300 closes. Thiscompletes a path of current flow to the clamp motor 44 through thecontact 296a and normally open contact 302b which is held closed by arelay 302 (circuit branch 212) that is normally activated. The clamppositioning motor 44 raises the clamp 16 until the clamp 16 contacts andopens the limit switch 284, (circuit branch 212) thus deenergizing therelay 302 so that contact 302b opens (circuit branch 213) and a contact302a closes. The opening of the contact 302b breaks the path of currentflow to the motor 44, and the closure of contact 302a energizes relay260, closing contact 2606 (circuit branch 209).

13 Closure of the contact 2606 energizes the platen drive motor 120 todrive the platen 19 to its center position. Upon reaching the centerposition, the platen 19 operates the limit switch 287 (circuit branch207) to close contact 28712 and open contact 287a, thereby energizing arelay 303 (circuit branch 207) to close its normally open contact 303a(circuit branch 213) and open its normally closed contact 30312 (circuitbranch 213). Opening of the contact 30311 deenergizes the relay 260 toopen the contact 260C (circuit branch 209) and deenergize the platenmotor 120. Upon closure of contact 303a, the clamp positioning motor 44is once again energized and now drives the clamp 16 downward through thesmoothing jaws 63 and 64 to its first position at which it contacts andopens a normally closed limit switch 304 (circuit branch 214) todeenergize the relay 296 (circuit branch 214). Consequently, the contact296a (circuit branch 213) opens and terminates operation of the motor 44and a normally closed contact 296b (circuit branch 211) of the relay 269closes to energize a timer 305 through the closed contact 301b. Theclamp 16 is held in this position for a preselected time of from 1 to 4seconds which is counted by the timer 305 so that the binding materialbetween the smoothing jaws 63 and 64 and the stock will have time toset. After the preset time has elapsed the contact 305a (circuit branch214) of the timer 305 closes to energize a second set of windings 77b ofthe motor 77 (circuit branch 214) to open the clamp 16. The clamp 16opens until the second clamp member contacts and opens a normally closedlimit switch 307 (circuit branch 214), thereby turning off the motor 77and completing the binding cycle for the first station 12.

While the present invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment, modifications thereof will be evident to oneskilled in the art which can be made without departing from the spiritof the invention. For example, while for the most secure bond withpresently available adhesives it is preferred to score the spine edge ofa stack of sheets to be bound, more inexpensive machines may be madewhich afford lesser degrees of adhesion in which this step isaccomplished by abrading the spine edge as with sandpaper moved intocontact with the spine edge on the housing 37, or is eliminated. Thusthe present invention is not limited to the specific embodimentdisclosed herein, but only by the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for binding a stack of sheets by applying a strip offlexible heat softenable binding material to a spine edge of the stack,said machine including:

a frame; first and second clamps each having two clamp membersrelatively movable between an open position affording manual insertionof a said stack of sheets between said clamp members and a clampingposition adapted to clamp a said stack of sheets between said clampmembers on opposite surfaces thereof;

cutter means adapted for transversely scoring the spine edge of a saidstack of sheets in either of said clamps when its clamp members are insaid clamping position, said cutter means being mounted on said framefor movement along a cutter path from a disengaged position between saidclamps in a first direction to afford cutting engagement with the spineedge of a said stack of sheets in said first 14 clamp and in a secondopposite direction to afford cutting engagement with the spine edge of asaid stack of sheets in said second clamp;

a platen having a support surface, said platen being mounted onsaidframe. for movement from a receiving positionbetween said clamps to afirst applying position with said support surface adjacent the spineedge-of a saidstack of sheets in said first clamp and in an oppositedirection to a second applying position with said support surfaceadjacent the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in said second clamp;

dispensing means adapted for dispensing a said strip of binding materialto the support surface of said platen when the platen is at saidreceiving position;

means for heating said support surface adapted to heat and soften a saidstrip of binding material on said support surface; and

means affording relative movement between either one of said clamps andsaid platen when said platen is adjacent the clamp for pressing thespine edge of a said stack of sheets in the clamp into engagement with asaid strip of heated binding material on said support surface.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each one of said clamps ismounted on said frame for independent movement along a clamp pathbetween a first position and a second. position, said cutter means isadapted to engage a said stack of sheets in either one of the clampsupon movement along the cutter path toward that clamp when the clamp isin the first position, said platen is movable to the applying positionto position a said strip of binding material thereon in closely spacedrelationship from the spine edge of a said stack of sheets in either oneof the clamps when the clamp is in said second position, and saidmachine further includes;

biasing means for biasing each of said clamps toward said first positionwhen the clamp is in said second position;

clamp operating means coupled to each of said clamps for moving saidclamp members between said open position and said clamping position;

cutter drive means for cycling said cutter means along said cutter pathfrom said disengaged position to afford cutting engagement with thespine edge of a said stack in either one of said clamps and back to saiddisengaged position;

platen drive means for moving said platen between said receivingposition and said applying position;

clamp positioning means coupled to each one of said clamps forsequentially (1) moving the clamp from said first position to saidsecond position, (2) allowing movement of the clamp toward said firstposition to afford emgagement between the spine edge of a said stack ofsheets in said clamp and a said strip of binding material on said platenunder the influence of said biasing means when said platen is in saidapplying position, (3) moving said clamp to said second position, and(4) returning said clamp to said first position; and

control means for operating said clamp operating means, cutter drivemeans, dispensing means, platen drive means and clamp positioning meansto initially position one of said clamps at said first position with itsclamp members in the open position, said cutter means in the disengagedposition, and said platen in said receiving position, and upon manualinsertion of a said stack of sheets in the clamp sequentially to (b movethe clamping members to the clamping position, (2) cycle said cuttermeans to transversely groove the spine edge of the stack of sheets, (3)move the clamp to the second position and dispense a said strip of thebinding material to said platen, (4) move said platen to said applyingposition adjacent the clamp, (5) allow movement of the clamp towardsaidfirst position to engage the spine edge of the stack of sheets with theheated strip of binding material, (6) return the clamp to said secondposition and said platen to said receiving position, (7) move the clampto said first position, and (8) move the clamping members to saidrelease position to afford manual removal of the bound stack.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said dispensing means isadapted to dispense a said strip of binding material having apredetermined width which is wider than the width of the spine edge of asaid stack to which it is to be applied, and includes means to positiona said dispensed strip of binding material on said heated supportsurface to center said strip of binding material beneath the spine edgeof a said stack of sheets in the adjacent clamp when said platen is insaid applying position; and said machine further includes jaw meanspositioned on said frame along the clamp path of each one of said clampsadapted for engagement with the edges of a said strip of bindingmaterial extending beyond the spine edge of a said stack of sheets inthe clamp to press said edges into engagement with the adjacent surfacesof the stack of sheets upon movement of the clamp from said secondposition to said first position.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein each clamp in said machinefurther includes:

a plate having a contact surface and being mounted on said frame formovement between a first position with said contact surface extendingacross an end of said clamp members to engage the spine edge of a saidstack of sheets inserted between said clamp members when the clampmembers are in the open position, and a second position with saidcontact surface spaced from said end of the clamp members, said platebeing adapted for engagement by said cutter means to move said platetoward said 16 second position upon movement of said cutter means alongsaid cutter path toward the clamp; and means for biasing said platetoward said first position. 5. A machine according to claim 1, whereinsaid dispensing means comprises:

a hopper adapted to receive a roll of said binding material, said hopperincluding means adapted for rotatably mounting a said roll of saidbinding material in said hopper, and wall means for providing a guidechute for an end of a roll of binding material rotatably mounted in saidhopper, said guide chute having an outlet end adjacent one side of saidsupport surface when said platen is in the receiving position;

a knife;

means mounting said knife for movement along the outlet end of saidguide chute to sever a said strip of binding material projecting beyondsaid outlet end of the guide chute;

a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the guide chuteand adapted for driving engagement with the opposite surfaces of a saidend of a said roll of said binding material in the guide chute;

roller drive means for rotating said rollers to drive the end of saidroll of binding material through said guide chute;

support plates projecting toward each other from opposite ends of saidhopper between said hopper and said platen to receive a said strip ofbinding material severed by said knife; and

means on said platen adapted to engage and remove a said strip ofbinding material from said support plates upon movement of said platenfrom said receiving position toward one of said applying positions.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said machine further includesmeans coupled between the clamp members for each of said clamps and saiddispensing means to operate said dispensing means for a timeproportionate to the spacing between said clamp members in said clampingposition to dispense a said strip of binding material having a widthproportionate to the thickness of a said stack of sheets in said clamp.

1. A MACHINE FOR BINDING A STACK OF SHEETS BY APPLYING A STRIP OFFLEXIBLE HEAT SOFTENABLE BINDING MATERIAL TO A SPINE EDTE OF THE STACK,SAID MACHINE INCLUDING: A FRAME; FIRST AND SECOND CLAMPS EACH HAVING TWOCLAMP MEMBERS RELATIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN AN OPEN POSITION AFFORDINGMANUAL INSERTION OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS BETWEEN SAID CLAMP MEMBERSAND A CLAMPING POSITION ADAPTED TO CLAMP A SAID STACK OF SHEETS BETWEENSAID CLAMP MEMBERS ON OPPOSITE SURFACES THEREOF; CUTTER MEANS ADAPTEDFOR TRANSVERSELY SCORING THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS INEITHER OF SAID CLAMPS WHEN ITS CLAMP MEMBERS ARE IN SAID CLAMPINGPOSITION, SAID CUTTER MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENTALONG A CUTTER PATH FROM A DISENGAGED POSITION BETWEEN SAID CLAMPS IN AFIRST DIRECTION TO AFFORD CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPINE EDGE OF ASAID STACK OF SHEETS OM SAID FIRST CLAMP AND IN A SECOND OPPOSITEDIRECTION TO AFFORD CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAIDSTACK OF SHEETS IN SAID SECOND CLAMP; A PLATEN HAVING A SUPPORT SURFACE,SAID PLATEN BEING MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT FROM A RECEIVINGPOSITION BETWEEN SAID CLAMPS TO A FIRST APPLYING POSITION WITH SAIDSUPPORT SURFACE ADJACENT THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACK OF SHEETS INSAID FIRST CLAMP AND IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO A SECOND APPLYINGPOSITION WITH SAID SUPPORT SURFACE ADJACENT THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAIDSTACK OF SHEETS IN SAID SECOND CLAMP; DISPENSING MEANS ADAPTED FORDISPENSING A SAID STRIP OF BINDING MATERIAL TO THE SUPPORT SURFACE OFSAID PLATEN WHEN THE PLATEN IS AT SAID RECEIVING POSITION; MEANS FORHEATING SAID SUPPORT SURFACE ADAPTED TO HEAT AND SOFTEN A SAID STRIP OFBINDING MATERIAL ON SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; AND MEANS AFFORDING RELATIVEMOVEMENT BETWEEN EITHER ONE OF SAID CLAMPS AND SAID PLATEN WHEN SAIDPLATEN IS ADJACENT THE CLAMP FOR PRESSING THE SPINE EDGE OF A SAID STACKOF SHEETS IN THE CLAMP INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A SAID STRIP OF HEATEDBINDING MATERIAL ON SAID SUPPORT SURFACE.
 2. A machine according toclaim 1, wherein each one of said clamps is mounted on said frame forindependent movement along a clamp path between a first position and asecond position, said cutter means is adapted to engage a said stack ofsheets in either one of the clamps upon movement along the cutter pathtoward that clamp when the clamp is in the first position, said platenis movable to the applying position to position a said strip of bindingmaterial thereon in closely spaced relationship from the spine edge of asaid stack of sheets in either one of the clamps when the clamp is insaid second position, and said machine further includes; biasing meansfor biasing each of said clamps toward said first position when theclamp is in said second position; clamp operating means coupled to eachof said clamps for moving said clamp members between said open positionand said clamping position; cutter drive means for cycling said cuttermeans along said cutter path from said disengaged position to affordcutting engagement with the spine edge of a said stack in either one ofsaid clamps and back to said disengaged position; platen drive means formoving said platen between said receiving position and said applyingposition; clamp positioning means coupled to each one of said clamps forsequentially (1) moving the clamp from said first position to saidsecond position, (2) allowing movement of the clamp toward said firstposition to afford emgagement between the spine edge of a said stack ofsheets in said clamp and a said strip of binding material on said platenunder the influence of said biasing means when said platen is in saidapplying position, (3) moving said clamp to said second position, and(4) returning said clamp to said first position; and control means foroperating said clamp operating means, cutter drive means, dispensingmeans, platen drive means and clamp positioning means to initiallyposition one of said clamps at said first position with its clampmembers in the open position, said cutter means in the disengagedposition, and said platen in said receiving position, and upon manualinsertion of a said stack of sheets in the clamp sequentially to (b 0)move the clamping members to the clamping position, (2) cycle saidcutter means to transversely groove the spine edge of the stack ofsheets, (3) move the clamp to the second position and dispense a saidstrip of the binding material to said platen, (4) move said platen tosaid applying position adjacent the clamp, (5) allow movement of theclamp toward said first position to engage the spine edge of the stackof sheets with the heated strip of binding material, (6) return theclamp to said second position and said platen to said receivingposition, (7) move the clamp to said first position, and (8) move theclamping members to said release position to afford manual removal ofthe bound stack.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein saiddispensing means is adapted to dispense a said strip of binding materialhaving a predetermined width which is wider than the width of the spineedge of a said stack to which it is to be applied, and includes means toposition a said dispensed strip of binding material on said heatedsupport surface to center said strip of binding material beneath thespine edge of a said stack of sheets in the adjacent clamp when saidplaten is in said applying position; and said machine further includesjaw means positioned on said frame along the clamp path of each one ofsaid clamps adapted for engagement with the edges of a said strip ofbinding material extending beyond the spine edge of a said stack ofsheets in the clamp to press said edges into engagement with theadjacent surfaces of the stack of sheets upon movement of the clamp fromsaid second position to said first position.
 4. A machine according toclaim 1, wherein each clamp in said machine further includes: a platehaving a contact surface and being mounted on said frame for movementbetween a first position with said contact surface extending across anend of said clamp members to engage the spine edge of a said stack ofsheets inserted between said clamp members when the clamp members are inthe open position, and a second position with said contact surfacespaced from said end of the clamp members, said plate being adapted forengagement by said cutter means to move said plate toward said secondposition upon movement of said cutter means along said cutter pathtoward the clamp; and means for biasing said plate toward said firstposition.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said dispensingmeans comprises: a hopper adapted to receive a roll of said bindingmaterial, said hopper including means adapted for rotatably mounting asaid roll of said binding material in said hopper, and wall means forproviding a guide chute for an end of a roll of binding materialrotatably mounted in said hopper, said guide chute having an outlet endadjacent one side of said support surface when said platen is in thereceiving position; a knife; means mounting said knife for movementalong the outlet end of said guide chute to sever a said strip ofbinding material projecting beyond said outlet end of the guide chute; apair of rollers rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the guide chuteand adapted for driving engagement with the opposite surfaces of a saidend of a said roll of said binding material in the guide chute; rollerdrive means for rotating said rollers to drive the end of said roll ofbinding material through said guide chute; support plates projectingtoward each other from opposite ends of said hopper between said hopperand said platen to receive a said strip of binding material severed bysaid knife; and means on said platen adapted to engage and remove a saidstrip of binding material from said support plates upon movement of saidplaten from said receiving position toward one of said applyingpositions.
 6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said machinefurther includes means coupled between the clamp members for each ofsaid clamps and said dispensing means to operate said dispensing meansfor a time proportionate to the spacing between said clamp members insaid clamping position to dispense a said strip of binding materialhaving a width proportionate to the thickness of a said stack of sheetsin said clamp.